Matthew Hill
Encyclopedia
Matthew Hill is a religious broadcaster
and a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
, representing the state's 7th House District (part of Washington County).
from Northeast State Technical Community College
and a Bachelor of Science
degree in Mass Communication
from East Tennessee State University
.
At the time of his first campaign for the Tennessee General Assembly
in 2004, he worked concurrently as operations manager of the Appalachian Radio Group and host of "Good Morning Tri-Cities" on the WHCB 91.5 FM
"sister station" WPWT "PowerTalk" 870 AM
for seven years. Hill is a children's radio minister hosting the weekend broadcast Bible Buddies WHCB Kid’s Show with Mr. Matthew and also hosts the The Matthew Hill Show broadcast radio program that is also accessible online as a free podcast.
Hill is employed by his father, Rev. Dr. Kenneth "Ken" C. Hill, as Information Communications Corporation, Inc. Vice President and Independent Methodist broadcaster
with WHCB 91.5 FM. Dr. Kenneth Hill is a former Sullivan County State Executive Committee Member to the Tennessee Republican Party (2005–2008), a current Director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, and is also a president of the now defunct State of Franklin political action committee. Dr. Kenneth Hill was in late 2005 nominated by then U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
in 2005 for appointment as commissioner with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission
(FCC).
Rep. Hill's younger brother, Timothy Aaron Hill, was formerly employed as a press secretary
by U.S. Representative David Davis and is also himself a former WPWT 870AM
Good Morning Tri-Cities conservative talk radio
show host. Timothy Hill lost his 2010 election bid as the Republican primary candidate for the Tennessee General Assembly 3rd House District seat.
in 2004 as a member of the Republican Party
. He was re-elected in 2006, defeating Fred Phillips, former Washington County Sheriff and Tennessee Department of Safety Director, in the general election. He is a member of the Children and Family Affairs Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Domestic Relations Subcommittee, and the Public Safety and Rural Roads Subcommittee.
During the 2004 7th House District election, Hill was quoted by a local newspaper as stating that he "would only vote for an income tax if there was a war."
A 2005 article within Business Tennessee Magazine cited Hill as a "...firebrand political conservative," who "...championed social issues to recently get elected to the state House of Representatives representing Johnson City and Washington County."
Among the 2006 legislation sponsored by Hill in the Tennessee General Assembly
is HB2921, authorizing (upon passage) "...the display, in county and municipal public buildings..., of replicas of historical documents and writings" including the Ten Commandments
religious displays. Former Rep. Jerome Cochran
of Carter County
introduced HB2921 in the Tennessee House Constitutional Protections subcommittee – of which Hill is not a standing member – and Hill's HB2921 legislation died peacefully in subcommittee.
Another 2006 bill introduced by Matthew Hill, HB2924, would make child rape a capital offense, punishable by death or life imprisonment
and would cost Tennessee taxpayers over $15 million each year to carry out the proposal. Hill's HB2924 failed in both the House and the Senate during the 2006 legislative session. The Senate version of Hill's child rape bill, SB2490, was sponsored by State Senator Raymond Finney
. Finney has stated since the defeat of both HB2924 and SB2490 within the Tennessee General Assembly that he "...does not plan to continue with his bill."
Rep. Hill was among a handful of Tennessee General Assembly Members within the House of Representatives widely reported during 2009 as a "birther
", demanding that U.S President Barack Obama
be compelled to present Hill and other legislators with a certified copy of Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate. At the National Religious Broadcasters Convention
in Nashville, Hill interviewed the nationally noted "birther" conspiracy advocate Dr. Orly Taitz
for a February 10 segment podcasted online by the IRN The Matthew Hill Show.
The Nashville Scene reported on February 9, 2010 that Rep. Matthew Hill introduced his HB2683, legislation that "...would transfer all commercial vehicle inspection and enforcement duties from the Safety Department to the Tennessee Regulatory Authority." The Nashville Scene article also observed that as Rep. Hill's father is a Tennessee Regulatory Authority Director, Hill's proposed TRA legislation would, "... In addition to all this new revenue from tractor-trailer tickets, the TRA and its directors also would gain fabulous new patronage powers under Hill's bill to fill positions outside of civil service for the next two years."
Rep. Hill re-introduced Tennessee workplace legislation during 2010 as HB2685, mandating that employees can only legally speak English at Tennessee workplaces.
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Tennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
, representing the state's 7th House District (part of Washington County).
Early life
Hill grew up in northeast Tennessee. He graduated from Tri-Cities Christian High School and earned an associate's degreeAssociate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
from Northeast State Technical Community College
Northeast State Technical Community College
Northeast State Community College is a public comprehensive community college based in Blountville, Tennessee, offering technical education and college transfer programs in Blountville and at teaching sites in Elizabethton, Gray, and Kingsport. The school strives to tailor its programs and services...
and a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Mass Communication
Mass communication
Mass communication is the term used to describe the academic study of the various means by which individuals and entities relay information through mass media to large segments of the population at the same time...
from East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University
East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state...
.
At the time of his first campaign for the Tennessee General Assembly
Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional structure:According to the Tennessee State Constitution of 1870, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature and consists of a Senate of thirty-three members and a House of Representatives of...
in 2004, he worked concurrently as operations manager of the Appalachian Radio Group and host of "Good Morning Tri-Cities" on the WHCB 91.5 FM
WHCB
WHCB is a Religious formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Bristol, Tennessee, serving the Tri-Cities, VA/TN area. WHCB is owned and operated by Appalachian Educational Communications Corp.-External links:*...
"sister station" WPWT "PowerTalk" 870 AM
WPWT
WPWT is a Talk Radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Colonial Heights, Tennessee, serving the Tri-Cities, VA/TN area. WPWT is owned and operated by Kenneth Clyde Hill.-Management:...
for seven years. Hill is a children's radio minister hosting the weekend broadcast Bible Buddies WHCB Kid’s Show with Mr. Matthew and also hosts the The Matthew Hill Show broadcast radio program that is also accessible online as a free podcast.
Hill is employed by his father, Rev. Dr. Kenneth "Ken" C. Hill, as Information Communications Corporation, Inc. Vice President and Independent Methodist broadcaster
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
with WHCB 91.5 FM. Dr. Kenneth Hill is a former Sullivan County State Executive Committee Member to the Tennessee Republican Party (2005–2008), a current Director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority, and is also a president of the now defunct State of Franklin political action committee. Dr. Kenneth Hill was in late 2005 nominated by then U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist
Bill Frist
William Harrison "Bill" Frist, Sr. is an American physician, businessman, and politician. He began his career as an heir and major stockholder to the for-profit hospital chain of Hospital Corporation of America. Frist later served two terms as a Republican United States Senator representing...
in 2005 for appointment as commissioner with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC).
Rep. Hill's younger brother, Timothy Aaron Hill, was formerly employed as a press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
by U.S. Representative David Davis and is also himself a former WPWT 870AM
WPWT
WPWT is a Talk Radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Colonial Heights, Tennessee, serving the Tri-Cities, VA/TN area. WPWT is owned and operated by Kenneth Clyde Hill.-Management:...
Good Morning Tri-Cities conservative talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
show host. Timothy Hill lost his 2010 election bid as the Republican primary candidate for the Tennessee General Assembly 3rd House District seat.
State Representative
Hill was first elected to the Tennessee House of RepresentativesTennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
in 2004 as a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
. He was re-elected in 2006, defeating Fred Phillips, former Washington County Sheriff and Tennessee Department of Safety Director, in the general election. He is a member of the Children and Family Affairs Committee, the Transportation Committee, the Domestic Relations Subcommittee, and the Public Safety and Rural Roads Subcommittee.
During the 2004 7th House District election, Hill was quoted by a local newspaper as stating that he "would only vote for an income tax if there was a war."
A 2005 article within Business Tennessee Magazine cited Hill as a "...firebrand political conservative," who "...championed social issues to recently get elected to the state House of Representatives representing Johnson City and Washington County."
Among the 2006 legislation sponsored by Hill in the Tennessee General Assembly
Tennessee General Assembly
The Tennessee General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional structure:According to the Tennessee State Constitution of 1870, the General Assembly is a bicameral legislature and consists of a Senate of thirty-three members and a House of Representatives of...
is HB2921, authorizing (upon passage) "...the display, in county and municipal public buildings..., of replicas of historical documents and writings" including the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
religious displays. Former Rep. Jerome Cochran
Jerome Cochran
Jerome Cochran is a Tennessee lawyer and Republican politician who served for two terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives...
of Carter County
Carter County, Tennessee
Carter County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 57,424. Its county seat is Elizabethton.Carter County is part of the Johnson City Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined...
introduced HB2921 in the Tennessee House Constitutional Protections subcommittee – of which Hill is not a standing member – and Hill's HB2921 legislation died peacefully in subcommittee.
Another 2006 bill introduced by Matthew Hill, HB2924, would make child rape a capital offense, punishable by death or life imprisonment
Life imprisonment
Life imprisonment is a sentence of imprisonment for a serious crime under which the convicted person is to remain in jail for the rest of his or her life...
and would cost Tennessee taxpayers over $15 million each year to carry out the proposal. Hill's HB2924 failed in both the House and the Senate during the 2006 legislative session. The Senate version of Hill's child rape bill, SB2490, was sponsored by State Senator Raymond Finney
Raymond Finney
Raymond A. Finney, Jr. is a Republican member of the Tennessee Senate representing the 8th district, which encompasses Blount and Sevier counties....
. Finney has stated since the defeat of both HB2924 and SB2490 within the Tennessee General Assembly that he "...does not plan to continue with his bill."
Rep. Hill was among a handful of Tennessee General Assembly Members within the House of Representatives widely reported during 2009 as a "birther
Barack Obama citizenship conspiracy theories
Conspiracy theories about the citizenship of Barack Obama claim that Barack Obama is not a natural-born citizen of the United States and is therefore not eligible to be President of the United States under Article Two of the U.S. Constitution. Some theories allege that Obama was born in Kenya, not...
", demanding that U.S President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
be compelled to present Hill and other legislators with a certified copy of Obama's Hawaiian birth certificate. At the National Religious Broadcasters Convention
National Religious Broadcasters
National Religious Broadcasters is an American organization that represents Christian religious broadcasters on American television and radio, including several high-profile televangelists and Christian radio show hosts. It claims a membership of more than 1700 organizations...
in Nashville, Hill interviewed the nationally noted "birther" conspiracy advocate Dr. Orly Taitz
Orly Taitz
Orly Taitz is an American dentist, lawyer, former real estate agent, and leading figure in the "birther" movement, which challenges whether Barack Obama is a natural-born citizen eligible to serve as President of the United States...
for a February 10 segment podcasted online by the IRN The Matthew Hill Show.
The Nashville Scene reported on February 9, 2010 that Rep. Matthew Hill introduced his HB2683, legislation that "...would transfer all commercial vehicle inspection and enforcement duties from the Safety Department to the Tennessee Regulatory Authority." The Nashville Scene article also observed that as Rep. Hill's father is a Tennessee Regulatory Authority Director, Hill's proposed TRA legislation would, "... In addition to all this new revenue from tractor-trailer tickets, the TRA and its directors also would gain fabulous new patronage powers under Hill's bill to fill positions outside of civil service for the next two years."
Rep. Hill re-introduced Tennessee workplace legislation during 2010 as HB2685, mandating that employees can only legally speak English at Tennessee workplaces.
External links
- Rep. Matthew Hill's current campaign web site - "Matthew Listens"
- Search the Tennessee Online Campaign Finance Database for records filed by Hill.
- Search the Tennessee Ethics Commission Database for Statement of Disclosure of Interests (ss-8004 & ss-8005) reports filed by Hill.
- Follow The Money:The Institute on Money in State Politics (Rep. Hill 2004)
- Project Vote Smart - NPAT Issue Positions (Rep. Hill 2004)
- Tennessee Legislative Bills Sponsored and Co-Sponsored By Rep. Matthew Hill